Enjoy A Stay And Explore Kingston Ontario

Stay And Explore Kingston And Find Much To See And Do

We found so many things to see and do on a trip to stay and explore Kingston. Kingston was an easy weekend trip from Toronto and was always a favourite getaway for us.  

We enjoyed the waterfront sights and heading off along the Waterfront Trail. This city provided many opportunities to learn about the interesting history of the area. Local street art showed a variety of perspectives.  And we always found tasty food and drink to fuel our wanderings.

Kingston was a great base for day trips to Wolfe Island or along the Thousand Islands in the St Lawrence River. Charming Prince Edward County (PEC) was close by for a day trip. Or to wander through when travelling to or from Kingston.

Lovely Waterfront Sights

We were drawn to wander the waterfront in Kingston.  We found the harbour filled with boats. On one trip, we took a tour boat trip around the waterways. There was also a fun trolley for local sightseeing.

When we visited Kingston for the Poker Run, we saw such a great array of fun boats. It was fascinating to see the boats with the big motors on the water and then back on trailers.

We loved wandering around Confederation Park. From the waterfront we got a great look at City Hall.  Always fun to see it over the fountain. Or with the iconic train engine in the view.

Any time of day or night it was great to look out over the waterfront on a trip to stay and explore Kingston.

Wander Along The Waterfront Trail

Leaving the waterfront area in Kingston, we found the Waterfront Trail.  A paved path led us along the water.  

Several stops presented the military nature of the area. As a former Navy Lieutenant, David was always drawn to such displays.

When we wanted a little exercise, we enjoyed a longer walk on a trip to stay and explore Kingston.

Fun and Colourful Street Art

We always loved when we found street art on our city visits. All around the waterfront area we found such a variety of pieces. Many reflected the unique sites in Kingston.

When we walked along the Waterfront Trail, we stopped and posed with the Gaskin Lion and the horse and carriage sculptures. The provocative Pollution sculpture caused us to stop and wonder.  And then we found the Time sculpture.

When we wandered around the Queen’s University campus, we found even more interesting street art.

Stay and explore Kingston to find the fun and colour street art.

Day Trips To Wolfe Island By Ferry

We found lots to see on the mainland in Kingston. But on one visit we took the ferry to the nearby Wolfe Island.

We drove around the island and stopped at different water spots. Then we wandered in the small town.

On a visit to stay and enjoy Kingston, we enjoyed a day trip to Wolfe Island.

Historical Sights In Kingston

There was so much Canadian history to discover on our visits to Kingston. We found the residence of Canada’s first Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald. Kingston also provided several sites that showcased the military history of this port city. Both Fort Henry and the Royal Military College (RMC) were located across from the main waterfront. 

Wandering through the downtown area we found many historic and beautiful churches that displayed a variety of architecture styles. The insides were as lovely as the outsides.

Queen’s University was located in the downtown area in Kingston.  We enjoyed wandering around one of Canada’s oldest campus grounds.

On a trip to stay and explore Kingston we learned much about the history of this city and the country.

Exploring The Thousand Islands

With Kingston as a base, we found so many fun ways to explore the Thousand Islands in Canada. The Thousand Islands included more than 1,800 islands in the St. Lawrence River.  Islands sat on both sides of the Canada and U.S. border that ran in the middle of the river.  

We explored the Thousand Islands by car as we drove along the Thousand Island Parkway. It was great to stop many times along the way at the small towns and sites.

A boat tour through the Thousand Islands gave us another unique look at the islands from the water. We saw the lovely Boldt Castle although did not get off the boat for a visit. This was definitely something for a return water tour of the Thousand Islands.

We were glad we planned day trips to enjoy the Thousand Islands when we stayed and explored Kingston.

Travel Through Prince Edward County (PEC)

Prince Edward County (PEC) is a waterfront area between Toronto and Kingston. We often planned our drive to wander through Prince Edward County on the way to or from our stay in Kingston. There was always something to see along the way.

PEC was close enough to Kingston and Toronto to visit as a day trip. But we found so much to see and do in Prince Edward County that this was another favourite getaway for us. The wineries and distilleries were a big draw. Art was on display everywhere we visited. And beaches drew crowds in the summer.

On a trip to stay and explore Kingston, adding in Prince Edward County was always a treat.

Great Hotels In Downtown Area

We visited Kingston for the weekend several times. Each time we enjoyed the great options we got with our Marriott Bonvoy loyalty status. Many times we stayed at the Delta Hotels Kingston Waterfront right by the marina.  Our status was always well recognized and we got some sweet suite upgrades with views out over the harbour.

On our most recent visit to Kingston, we learned that the Marriott Kingston had opened in the downtown area. This newly renovated historic hotel was on the site of the former Royce Inn Hotel. We got a great room upgrade. The M Lounge was included with our loyalty status benefits.  We enjoyed the lounge and the lovely outdoor patio. Breakfast was served in the lounge and snacks were available through the day before evening appetizers arrived.

We loved the choices we found for great hotels on a trip to stay and explore Kingston.

Stay And Explore Kingston For Tasty Food And Drink

We ate well when we stayed in Kingston. Breakfast was part of our loyalty status benefits with Marriott Bonvoy. The hotel food offerings often drew us in.  And it was always nice when we got a treat to celebrate a special occasion. 

All around Kingston we found such a variety of restaurants for tasty food and drink. When we could, we chose the patios for the view. A special birthday dinner at the River Mill Restaurant was a real treat.

When we visited Kingston for the weekend, we never missed a chance to visit the local market by the downtown City Hall. We found great local treats to take home.

On a trip to stay and explore Kingston we always found tasty food and drink options to fuel our adventures.

Great Reasons To Stay And Explore Kingston

We found so many reasons to stay and explore Kingston in Ontario – over and over again! Each visit we enjoyed our favourite spots along the waterfront and in the city centre. Or headed off for fun day trips.  We knew there was still much more to see on repeat visits. 

Have you taken trip to stay and explore Kingston?  What else should be do on a return visit?

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